Dispensing apparatus.



PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

B. B. MURPHY. DISPENSING APPARATUS;

APPLIOATIOI FILED JULY 22, 1904.

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N0 MODEL.

110,774,889. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

E. E. MURPHY.

DISPENSING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented November 15, 1904-.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDW'ARD E; MURPHY, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PUFFER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,889, dated November 15, 1904.

Application filed July 22, 1904.

7 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD E. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chelsea, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Dispensing Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for syrups used at soda-fountains, and is embodiedin an apparatus of that type in which the syrup is contained in a jar;

and delivered therefrom through'a valveless tube in substantially measured quantities at each operation.

In a dispensing apparatus of this type the jar is provided with a trap or reservoir at the bottom, and a dispensing-tube leading from the said trap is provided with means for forcing a predetermined amount of syrup from said trap through the tube, so that a definite quantity of syrup is delivered at each operation.

The apparatus embodying the invention is very accurate in measuring the amount of syrup and is adapted for rapid consecutive operations.

Figure l is a longitudinal section, partly in.

elevation, of a dispensing apparatus embodying the invention. Fig.2 isa similar view enlarged, showing the dispensing device in the position assumed after the syrup has been delivered and the plunger started on its clownward movement; and Fig. 3 is a detail drawn on the same scale as Fig. 2, showing a modifi- Serial No. 217,676. (No model.)

let-nozzle 6 The said chamber 5 is of such size as to contain the amount of syrup to be delivered at each operation and projects into the trap (0 so as to be substantially submerged in the syrup so long as any syrup remains in the jar. The chamber 6 is shown as cylindrical in shape and open at the bottom, the syrup being discharged from the chamber by means of a plunger 0, which is fitted in the chamber like a piston and provided with a lifting-rod 0 As herein shown, the said lifting-rod extends upwardly through the tubular passage 5 and is guided and supported at the top in a guide member 5*, preferably formed integral with the nozzle portion 6 the said guide member being arranged to fit in an opening through the top of the casing A. The entire dispensing device is arranged to be easily removable from the casing, so as not to be in the Way if'the jar is to be taken out to be refilled or replaced. As herein shown, the i guide member 6 is provided with a cylindrical portion 12", which tits closely in the opening through the top of the casing A, there being a flange Z2 projecting over the fedge of said opening, and thereby forming a support for the entire dispensing device. In order to discharge the syrup from the imeasuring-chamber b the plunger 0 and its lifting-rod 0 are connected with an actuating device or handle 0 which is herein shown as pivoted at 0*in the guide member 6, the pivot being herein shown as supported in a lug formed upon the top of the nozzle portion 5, the actuating member '6 being arranged to act upon the lifting-rod 0 The said liftingrod 0 is arranged to stand normally in the position shown in Fig. 1, being provided, for example, with a'weight 0 which tends to carry the rod and plunger downward to the lowermost position except when the actuating member 0 is operated. Y The plunger cis provided with aseries of ducts c", all of which communicate with a comparatively large inlet-opening 0 at the bottom of the plunger, which inlet-opening c is controlled by a checkvalve 0 so that in the downward movement of the plunger the check-valve 0 will be lifted,

as shown in Fig. 2, allowing the syrup to flow freely into the chamber Z2 In order to further facilitate the filling of the chamber 72 the walls thereof are provided with slots 72 extending beyond the top of the plunger 0 when in its normal position, thus affording additional inlets for the syrup. Under normal conditions, therefore, the chamber b stands full of syrup, the level of which in the outlet-pipe Z) will be substantially equal to the level of the syrup in the body of the jar a, so that when the actuating member 0 is rocked on its pivot 0 to the left from the position shown in Fig. 1 the plunger 0 will be pulled upward in the chamber 6 and the opening 0 will be stopped by the check-valve 0 so that the syrup in the chamber 6 will be forced upward and discharged through the nozzle 7)". Upon releasing the actuating member c the plunger 0 will return toits normal position through the action of the weighted portion 0 and the volume of syrup in the trap 0/ will flow into the chamber 6 through the inlet 0 In the construction shown the actuating member 0 is provided with an arm 0 which engages in a recess 0 formed in the weighted member 0 so that a positive downward movement of the plunger 0 can be produced, if desired. This feature of the invention renders the apparatus capable of rapid consecutive operations, since the handle 0 can be moved backward and forward, the chamber b filling with syrup regardless of the rapidity of the downward movement of the plunger.

In the construction hereinbefore described the check-valve c is shown as a ball which lies in the mouth of the inlet 0 it being immaterial, however, so far as relates to the invention, what particular type of check-valve is used.

In Fig. 3 a modified form of valve is shown, the plunger 0 being shown as provided with a number of inlet-ducts 0 extending directly through the plunger, these ducts being controlled by a check-valve consisting of a disk 0 which rests upon the top of the plunger, so as to cover the ports 0 during the upward movement of the plunger and to be forced upward so as to uncover the said ports during the downward movement of the plunger. The upward movement of the disk valve is limited by means of a shoulder 0 formed on a member 0 which is shown as screw-threaded into the plunger 0 and also as having an internally-threaded opening to receive the stem 0 The disk valve 0 is provided with an opening in the middle to surround the member 0 the said opening being smaller in diameter than the shoulder 0 To admit of the free flow of syrup into the measuringchamber If when the plunger is in its normal position, the said chamber is shown as provided with lateral ports Z2 just above the top justing device being herein shown as a stop b, screw-threaded into a portion of the member 6" and adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 0, formed on the actuating-handle 0. As herein shown, the stop I)? is in such a position as to admit of the complete movement of the actuating-handle c and of the plunger 0, so as wholly to discharge the contents of the measuring-chamber 6 it being obvious, however, that by raising the said stop by turning the same in the socket in which it is screw-threaded the movement of the handle a and consequent movement of the plungerc may be shortened, so that less than the entire contents of the measuring-chamber will be discharged at each operation. It is obvious, therefore, that the amount of syrup discharged at each operation may be varied from a maximum amount to any amount desired less than said maximum amount.

\Vhile the weight of the dispensing device as a whole is sufficient to, retain the device in place without preventing the removal thereof when it is necessary to remove the jar from the casing, I prefer to provide the device with a retaining-catch 6 which prevents any possibility of the displacement of the device when the actuating member 0 is operated. In the construction shown the dispensing device is substantially independent of the syrup-jar and may be quickly and easily removed for cleaning, &c., and does not in any way interfere with the ready removal of thejar for refilling, &c. The device has the further advantage that the measuring-chamber Z3 refills during the downward movement of the plunger, so that a number of portions of syrup can be drawn consecutively and with great rapidity.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a jar provided with a supplemental chamber or trap at the bottom; of a dispensing device comprising a tube provided with a stationary measuring-chamber projecting into said trap and with an outletnozzle; a plunger movable in said measuringchamber; means for producing the movement of said plunger therein; and acasing for said jar provided with an opening to receive said dispensing device. substantially as described.

2. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination with a jar provided with a trap; of a dispensing device comprising a discharging-tube provided at the bottom with a measuringchamber which projects into said trap; a plunger fitting said measuring-chamber and provided with a stem projecting downward through said tube; a valve in said plunger; a

plunger-actuating device connected with said tube; and a casing for the jar provided with an opening over the trap, the said casing constituting a support for the dispensing device, as set forth.

3. The combination with a jar provided with a trap at the bottom, and the casing for said jar; of a dispensing device supported in an opening in the top of the casing and having a downwardly-projecting tube with a chamber open at the bottom projecting into said trap; a plunger substantially fitting said chamber and having an opening through the bottom provided with a check-valve, the said chamber also having slots which extend above the top of the plunger when in its normal position; and means for producing a vertical movement of said plunger, as set forth.

4. The combination with a jar provided with a trap at the bottom, of a dispensing device comprising a discharging-tube provided with a measuring-chamber which projects into said trap; a plunger fitting said measuring-chamber and provided with inlet-ports;a disk valve on top of said plunger to cover said ports; a casing for the jar provided with an opening; a flange connected with the dispensing device fitting said opening and removably supported therein; and a handle pivotally connected with the dispensing device for operating said plunger.

5. The combination with a jar provided with a trap at the bottom, of a dispensing device comprising a discharging-tube provided with a measuring-chamber which projects into said trap; a plunger fitting said measuring-chamber and provided with inlet-ports; a disk valve on top of said plunger to cover said ports;

ports in the wall of said chamber; a casing for the jar provided-witl'i an opening, said opening constituting a support for said dispensing device; and a handle pivotally connected with said dispensing device for operating said plunger.

6. The combination with a jar provided with a trap at the bottom, of a dispensing device comprising a discharging-tube provided with a measuring-chamber which projects into said trap; means for discharging the contents of said measuring-chamber; an adjusting device to vary the extent of operation of such discharging means; and a casing for the jar constituting a support for the dispensing device.

7. In a dispensing apparatus, a casing provided with an opening at the top; a jar adapted to be slid endwise into said casing and having a trap at the bottom in line with said opening when the jar is in place, combined with a detachable dispensing device comprising a tube provided with a flange to fit the opening in the casing, and with a stationary measuring-chamber projecting into the trap in the jar and with an outlet-nozzle; a plunger movable in said measuring-chamber; and means connected with the dispensing device for producing a movement of said plunger to discharge the contents of said measuring-chamber, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD E. MURPHY.

Witnesses:

MARGARET E. COVENEY, HENRY J. LIVERMORE. 

